Minnesota is home to over 2,000 known native wildlife species.
Approximately 16 percent (346) of these species are identified as Species in Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) in Minnesota's Wildlife Action Plan because they are rare, their populations are declining, or they face serious threats that may cause them to decline.
Minnesota's Wildlife Action Plan is a partnership-based conservation plan to:
- Ensure the long-term health and viability of Minnesota's wildlife with a focus on species that are rare, declining, or vulnerable to decline;
- Enhance opportunities to enjoy Species in Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) and other wildlife and to participate in conservation; and
- Acquire the resources necessary to successfully implement the Minnesota Wildlife Action Plan
The plan addresses the primary causes of species population declines:
- Habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation
- Non-habitat issues such as low reproduction, poor dispersal ability, disease, or overexploitation
- Climate change impacts
The plan's habitat approach focuses on prioritizing conservation for SGCN and other wildlife within a mapped Wildlife Action Network of quality terrestrial and aquatic habitats throughout the state. Large core areas and connections that facilitate species movement will support the biological diversity already present in the network. Targeting conservation within the network will increase the effectiveness and efficiency of actions to reduce the primary causes of population declines.
The plan's species approach focuses on implementing conservation actions that address the causes of decline that are not fully addressed by the habitat approach (such as disease, low dispersal ability). The approach also focuses on acquiring improved data to identify causes of decline or to assess the distribution and abundance of species.
Minnesota Wildlife Action Plan...learn more!
New release: the MN Wildlife Action Plan 5-Year Report
- MN Wildlife Action Plan 2015-25 (overview)
- MN Wildlife Action Plan 2015-25 Table of Contents
- MN Wildlife Action Plan 2015-25 (complete document, 240 pages, large file: 96mb)
- List of Species in Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN)
- Resources (maps, SGCN list sortable by species, criteria, conservation status, etc.)
Contact
- Daren Carlson, Minnesota WAP Monitoring Coordinator, 651-259-5079
- Kristin Hall, Nongame Wildlife Program Supervisor, 651-259-5104
- Krista Larson, Minnesota WAP - Nongame Research Biologist, 651-259-5120